Winchester Cathedral

This stunning Anglican cathedral, boasting the longest nave in entire Europe, is the centerpiece of the historic Medieval town of Winchester. Built in a Romanesque style, the Winchester Cathedral is steeped in a storied past that began with the original Saxon church, a Benedictine monastery dating back to 648. The erstwhile church was home to the remains of Saint Swithun, the then bishop of Winchester. When the cathedral was expanded in 971, and later re-built in 1079, the Saint's remains were moved inside, inviting a wave of pilgrims and devotees. During the Middle Ages, the cathedral underwent extensive renovation as successive bishops added their own architectural nuances and elements, which included the fabled Gothic nave. As the years passed, the imposing cathedral became further renowned for several historic elements like the transept and the Norman crypt, both venerated remnants of the 11th Century. At the heart of this crypt, which floods intermittently in the winter, is a sculpture that stoically stands in rising water. Its other outstanding treasures include the Winchester Bible, which was written in the cathedral's scriptorium between 1160 and 1180, and a 17th-century library that contains ancient manuscripts and early printed books from Medieval times. Jane Austen, acclaimed English novelist, is buried here, besides the entombed remains of several Saxon kings, Viking conqueror Canute, and William II.